Tapers
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
AI Impact Summary
Tapers faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 17/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 2% of all analyzed occupations. Of 16 analyzed tasks, 1 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Tapers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path
by Pluralsight
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
16 tasks analyzed
Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas.
Press paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints.
Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth.
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surfaces for painting or papering.
Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.
Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.
Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.
Work on high ceilings using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.
Select the correct sealing compound or tape.
Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.
Remove extra compound after surfaces have been covered sufficiently.
Install metal molding at wall corners to secure wallboard.
Apply texturizing compounds or primers to walls or ceilings before final finishing, using trowels, brushes, rollers, or spray guns.
Check adhesives to ensure that they will work and will remain durable.
Sand rough spots of dried cement between applications of compounds.
Use mechanical applicators that spread compounds and embed tape in one operation.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas. | 25Estimated | 19.0% | 12% | |
| Press paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 10% | |
| Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth. | 25Estimated | 19.0% | 10% | |
| Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surfaces for painting or papering. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 8% | |
| Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces. | 25Estimated | 19.0% | 10% | |
| Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 8% | |
| Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Work on high ceilings using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 5% | |
| Select the correct sealing compound or tape. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 2% | |
| Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Remove extra compound after surfaces have been covered sufficiently. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 5% | |
| Install metal molding at wall corners to secure wallboard. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 5% | |
| Apply texturizing compounds or primers to walls or ceilings before final finishing, using trowels, brushes, rollers, or spray guns. | 25Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| Check adhesives to ensure that they will work and will remain durable. | 51.68Observed | 69.9% | 2% | |
| Sand rough spots of dried cement between applications of compounds. | 25Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| Use mechanical applicators that spread compounds and embed tape in one operation. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 20.3%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$64,700
per year
Mean Wage
$70,390
per year
Employment
13K
workers
Wage Range
$43,450 - $106,160
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsPaperhangers
20%Median salary: $48,260
Higher risk than 6% of other occupations
Plasterers and Stucco Masons
20%Median salary: $56,020
Higher risk than 7% of other occupations
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
21%Median salary: $57,260
Higher risk than 9% of other occupations
Glaziers
21%Median salary: $55,440
Higher risk than 9% of other occupations
Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters
21%Median salary: $51,000
Higher risk than 10% of other occupations
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
22%Median salary: $48,660
Higher risk than 11% of other occupations
Fence Erectors
23%Median salary: $46,940
Higher risk than 14% of other occupations
Helpers--Carpenters
24%Median salary: $41,600
Higher risk than 16% of other occupations
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
25%Median salary: $38,140
Higher risk than 19% of other occupations
Tile and Marble Setters
26%Median salary: $52,240
Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Tapers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change